3221/Log 3221

Log 3221
Date of Scene:	23 November 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Shatterpoint, Doctor Strange

---

Shatterpoint has posed:
    The Sanctum Sanctorum has, most assuredly, the most powerful magical defenses imaginable. Some, too, unimaginable. This is, really, the only thing that befits the home of the Sorcerer Supreme. It is his home and, as the name implies, his Sanctum. Recently, he investigated a... Thing, that was ostensibly a person, that tripped many of the wards and magical detectors that help him maintain his vigil over the world.

    Stephen is returning to this den of magic, tonight. What exactly he is returning from, is difficult to say- but what he is returning to is... Woefully unexpected. Whether through portal or mortal doorway, Stephen steps into his home, and is greeted not by any unseen magical servants he may have... But by a chipper, almost surprised sounding voice.

    "Whoa! Startled me there."

    She is not invited. Theoretically, a number of magical enchantments should be making more noise both literal and ethereal than all of the banks on earth at once. But, all the same, without anything going off... There she is. Skin white as polished porcelain, hair black as night. Wearing a large ankh necklace and decked out in mildly anachronistic attire- tubetop, tight leather jeans, almost as if out of the 1980s- with silver eyes and a closed umbrella, stands an otherworldly woman.

    "Stephen Strange. I always thought that name was all sorts of nifty. I won't pretend you can't figure it out, but I'm Death. Just call me Dee."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    Stephen turns his attention down at the doorway and before shutting the door he shakes off the rain from his umbrella and closes it and the door at the same time. Turning further, he locks the door and tests the mystic ward he has set up over the frame of the door and confirms it's intact, while his other hand slides the umbrella into a can he has next to the door just for this situation.

    Stephen turns his attention back to Death and is instantly out of his three piece suit an into his more comfortable gi. With a few steps closer to the woman-ish figure, Stephen lifts an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I will be doing that." Stephen says, walking forward and in a flash they're both in the kitchen and Stephen is pouring a cup of tea into two mugs, to Death he offers one, being a good host and smirking, "Makes sense that you are who you claim to be. One of the constants of the universe. Capable of being anywhere because you are everywhere." Stephen says casually, taking a seat suddenly in his large wingback chair in his study, with Death also in one.

    "What have you come to discuss with me?" The wizard inquires.

Shatterpoint has posed:
    Death wordlessly takes the cup- because she is a good guest, even if she can at times be abrupt and... Altogether too early. She sips at it lightly, and smiles at the Sorceror Supreme. "Yeah, but that's so impersonal. Or, too personal. But anyways, I figured you'd want to be as direct as that, so let's discuss!" She smiles, brighter, then. Who knew Death would be so cheery? "You recently... Met, I guess, with a friend of mine. She's in a weird place right now. I know you er... For lack of a better term, 'sourced' the nature of her existence? And I figured you'd probably want to follow that lead. So I figured I'd just... Come answer questions, so you don't have to do so much work."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    "The girl who was dead and not dead at the same time. Yes." Stephen recalls, lowering his tea mug from his lips and looking back towards Death.

    "I know your power is not one that is wanning, but with the growth of civilization and with the universe itself still expanding, you are in fact, waxing. I know you do not require an avatar to appear, and that you don't appear all that frequently in the physical either way."

    "What are you planning to do with the girl?" Stephen asks in a straight forward manner, an eyebrow lifting as well.

Shatterpoint has posed:
    Death nods a couple of times. "That's all somewhat technically true. My power never waxes or wanes, but there's really only one or two things that trump Death. There will never be more than that. I am, also, -always- here. You said it yourself! But the thing is, I sort of owe it to myself and the universe to weigh the pros and cons of a few things. I had to think about it, long and hard. See, there are these... These four things out there. Really nasty, gnarly guys that want to basically destroy... Everything. Frankly, they're assholes. I don't know if this world is entirely ready for them. Had to think about that for a while- about what I'd do about it. If I'd do anything."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    Stephen leans back in his wingback chair, and even lifts one leg, to rest the ankle on top of his other leg at the knee. His grey eyes linger on Death as he waits for her to actually answer the question he asked. He doesn't like repeating himself, and he's dealt with a few of the universal constants before, and they're not as impressive or even surprising after you've conversed with Eternity a time or two. They seem to be almost human. Each with their own wants, desires, motivations. So still, Stephen remains silent, his eyes focused on the porcelain colored being before him.

Shatterpoint has posed:
    Death continues- Because, if nothing else, she is aware that she has not really -answered- his question. "So, after a while of thought- and I mean a while, goodness, I've been debating certain bits of this since Rome was a thing- I realized that... That I couldn't- not that I wasn't allowed, not that it would -matter- if I wasn't allowed- but just that it wouldn't be -right- of me to interfere directly. I couldn't just Show Up and take them out, you know? Seems kind of wrong, doesn't it? So I figured... I figured what I'd do is I'd find someone who had the will to do what was needed, and give them... Maybe not -everything- of the way? But enough of it. To put a piece on the board that'd tip the scales. Just enough that you guys would be able to do what you needed to do, when you needed to do it. So that all of you guys here on earth could, you know, save the universe. That's one of the things I love about you guys."

    She pauses for a moment, smiling. "It's one of the reasons why you're all my favorite."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    "So, she's a pawn to not only save the universe, but to push the rest of humanity into - saving the universe is the wrong phrase - to maintain the status quo for reality. That's a reasonable enough thought." Stephen reports his conclusion aloud and takes another sip of his warm tea as he ponders this over. "Then that brings me to my next question, one that should be obvious."

    Stephen leans forward, his foot falling back onto the floor and his elbows bend so that his hands are before his face as he thinks about his words carefully. "Do you expect me to guide her in some way, some moral compass, or to teach her in the mystic arts, because you know well enough that I don't allow death-- you -- to come early, regardless of views, creeds or actions of any individual."

Shatterpoint has posed:
    "I don't really like that word, pawn. There's nobody -telling- her what to do. All I gave her was the ability to make the -choice- in a meaningful way. To add to the equation as a variable that meant more to the whole." she leans forward, herself. "To that end, what I want you to do is... Whatever you would normally do. You don't -have- to do anything. She probably won't learn magic. Doesn't have the want for it. She doesn't really know what she can do- and the full extent of that isn't entirely open to her yet. She'd have to dig... Really deep for it. But you can help her. Or you can ignore her. Choice is up to you- I'm just here to answer questions."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    "Then say I leave her alone and she comes to an untimely demise, would you simply find another ... human to be your lynchpin, or do you have some predetermined end game with Caroline specifically? I know you need things to be alive in order for things to die, thus allowing you to be, but even you have your goals and motivations in this. Those are not what I'm after, I'm after a way to save this girl, to give her more choice than you ever gave her."

Shatterpoint has posed:
    Death shakes her head for a moment. "I don't need things to be alive for things to die. At the end of it all, when all of the things are dead and there are no more things alive... I will turn off the lights of this universe, as it were. The universe itself will die, and my job will be done. I'm just trying to make sure that this doesn't happen so... Grievously early. It's not a malicious thing. It's not a power grab. I'm not in any -danger- here and I don't really -need- more power, but... Everyone's supposed to get the same deal. A lifetime. Nothing more, nothing less. Seems like a gyp for it to be over so quickly for -everyone.-" she states, and truth be told, she's not lying. Death could be called nice- and that would be true. She is not a malevolent entity. "What... Choice do you think I didn't give her? I didn't give her some wicked Sophie's Choice of life or death. She wouldn't have played that game- she's more clever than that, and she isn't quite so petty. What I told her- the choice I gave her was that... This was the end. She was going to die. But if she wanted, I could give her a chance at retribution. She accepted. She was okay with that. And if she fails... Then everyone has failed. She can't do it alone. She can help- she can contribute a lot. But if it all comes down to it and it's all just insurmountable- or that you all can't put together what you need to, then... That's just it. That's the end."

Doctor Strange has posed:
    "Status Quo." Stephen repeats to himself before he starts to stand up and nods once. "Then all of my questions are answered." The wizard notes, as he sets his coffee down on the small table next to his chair and he nods once.

    "Is there anything I can do for you?" Stephen asks, curious and being somewhat polite and humble.

Shatterpoint has posed:
    Death shrugs, after a moment. She had expected Strange to be relatively clinical and pragmatic. His responses don't really surprise her much- if she can even -be- surprised. "Then, if all of your questions are answered, that's very good. Thank you for taking the time, and for whatever you do in the future." So polite! She genuinely means that, too.

    Then, after a moment, Strange blinks, and Death is simply gone- and her cup of tea is empty. Seems she enjoyed it.